President Bola Tinubu has sent a 3-man list of ambassadorial nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced this at plenary on Wednesday.
The nominees are Kayode Are from Ogun State, Aminu Dalhatu from Jigawa and Ayodele Oke.
“The list contains three names for now, I am sure others will follow,” Akpabio said after reading the letter from President Bola Tinubu.
Since the emergence of Tinubu in 2023, he has not appointed an ambassador, an issue that critics have latched on to.
After President Donald Trump of the United States blacklisted Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, many blamed this on the non-appointment of ambassadors.
In an interview he granted in September, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Minister of Foreign Affairs, dismissed concerns that diplomatic missions were paralysed without appointed envoys.
“All our embassies are functioning well. The chargé d’affaires in each mission is carrying out responsibilities effectively. The absence of ambassadors has not created a vacuum”, he had said.
He explained that an ambassador is the head of mission, but the diplomatic chain of command includes deputies, counsellors and career officers who handle daily operations.
“Diplomacy is not a one-man show. The system is designed to cope with such situations,” he stated.
Tuggar noted that the appointment of ambassadors is strictly the president’s prerogative and will be made in due course.
“Mr President is considering the matter, and when the time is right, names will be announced. Meanwhile, our missions are not idle,” he had said.
